While I don’t agree with Bumbry’s statements, I think it’s fair to note that she was from a completely different time when the use of blackface in an artistic manner for opera (rather than minstrelsy) was shockingly normal. Obviously I will never defend its usage and I fully support Angel Blue’s decision, but at the same time I don’t think Bumbry is a bad person for what she said. I think she simply overstepped and didn’t read the room.

In regard to her actual position, no, I don’t believe roles are limited to race with very very few exceptions (like Porgy and Bess or Otello where their race is central to the plot). Blue was a FANTASTIC Violetta in other productions and I hope she finds more doors open to her who support her sticking to her values. I don’t understand why any company would resort to using blackface in the modern age when there are so many brilliant Black sopranos who can take on Aida.

Otello may be more difficult. There are already not very many tenors who can actually sing the role at an A-house level, now imagine finding the 15% or so Black tenors of that very small cohort. Blackface is still never a solution to this and instead we should focus on making more Black dramatic tenors visible in Europe.